Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
If that little dig was aimed at me, you have wrongly understood the point I've been making. It's not a matter of "inflexible rules", but of being in a position at all times to properly control the vehicle in the anticipation of an unexpected event occurring which will require that control. If you're driving down a motorway holding a coffee cup in one hand, on 999 journeys out of 1000 you'll be absolutely fine, but on that 1000th journey you'll find yourself in a position where you're unable to react swiftly and appropriately to the situation, because you do not have both hands free to correctly control the vehicle.
"Expect the unexpected" should always be the attitude when performing any potentially hazardous activity, such as a driving a motor vehicle..
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My comments were not aimed specifically at you but I think the quote above demonstrates exactly what I am getting at, but you do not see that. At this stage I am convinced that you will never understand what I am saying (but if interested there is plenty of information around on situational and spatial awareness and its relevance to decision making; especially in aviation and marine, both industries that I have consulted in) so I will not persevere beyond mentioning one point which may give others an inkling of what I am saying.
You refer to "driving down a motorway holding a coffee cup in one hand" and present that in a context as if that is a continuous activity and ignoring of situation. Cars have cup holders (well most of them) so you do not go "driving down a motorway holding a coffee cup in one hand", you go driving down a motorway with a coffee cup in a holder. When it is safe to do so you pick it up and have a sip, taking perhaps 5 seconds, and then replace it. One makes judgements as to when it is safe to do so by being aware of ones current situation and of what is going on around one (spatial awareness). Such a judgement in a particular case may make one not drink coffee at all, but perhaps drink water (which is safe to drop), but if one is driving down a road with no other traffic that is straight as far as horizon and good visibility all round, then one may decide to drink really hot coffee and to hold it much, much longer than 5 seconds.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
Had I had my hands full of coffee cups there's no way in the world that I could have avoided hitting it.
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This is at least the second post where you have referred to problems if ones hands are "full of coffee cups". Perhaps on that point we can agree, I would not drive, nor wish to see others drive with a coffee cup in both hands. But your tendency to dramatize your case in such a manner does no good to it in my eyes.
I'll leave it at that as far as you are concerned Harry as it is apparent that we will never be on common ground with respect to this matter.